Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-05-28
THE END OF A JOURNEY.


The Houghton landau drew up at
the station and Louise alighted with
her friend, Sybil Travers. The latter
young lady, clad in a gray Mother
Hubbard, and wearing a pretty poke
bonnet piled high with ostrich feathers,
was the very picture of elegance.
Louise was little, Insignificant thing,
and she appeared less attractive than
ever as she made her way to the wait
ing-room alongside of her distinguished
looking friend.
'It is too absurd, Sybil," she said as
they sat together in a remote corner,
enjoying a last confideisial chat before
Miss Travers left for the West. 1.-The
idea of your posting off to San Fran
cisco all alone, simply because HARM
less youth promises to come this way,
and to act as your escortr'
"It is only three weeks earlier than
meant to go, anyhow" said Sybil,
stoutly. "You know why 1 prefer to
go alone, Louise. You see Uncle Jerry
has made up his mind that propinquity
is the only thing necessary to make
Mr.. Valleau and myself fall madly in
love with each other. He fancies that
a trip across the continent is especially
well calculated to bring about that
much-desired result. But 1 don't see
it that way. l know very well that I
should hate Mr.. Valleau from the out
set. should feel bound to do it Just
for contrariety. So, you see, prefer
to go home few weeks earlier, and to
go alone; for if did wait for Mr.. VAL
leau, as Uncle Jerry wished me to. and
If failed to fall in love with him, you
know very well that it would be inn
possible for me to explain the phenOm-
enon satisfactorily. As it is, can
smooth matters over easily"
"How far-sighted you are Sybil,"
Louise said, laughing. '.Mr. Valleau
will be terribly disappointed though, l
fear. But there's your train, dear.
Good-by. Write to me as soon as you
arrive"
Then followed considerable girlish
demonstration, which provoked a smile
on the lips of a nonchalant young
traveller who reclined at his ease before
one of the windows of parlor car, and
who had been watching Louise and
Sybil with interest.
"a very handsome girl, by JOve"
was his mental comment as Sybil took
her seat just behind him, and the mir
ror at the end of the car enabled him to
command full view Of her face. II
wonder how far she is going"
There was no means of ascertaining
Just then, but when the conductor came
through the car. and the young man
presented his ticket, to which was at
tached long string of coupons rum
ming all the way from New York to
San Francisco, he noted with satisfac-
ton that Sybil had one like it.
"a through passenger, he observed.
81 wonder who she is? Travelling
alone, too; but evidently lady. She
must be a Californian, but she looks
like New-Yorker," etc.
The young mans fancy ran riot. and
all the while he kept his eyes fixed on
the mirror in which was reflected
SYPHILIS lovely face, with its rich, warm
coloring and its beautiful frame of rip
pling hair. Very often their eyes met.
as was only natural; but Sybil had
wonderful composure for SO young .
girl, and the look of serenity she con-
tinued to wear rather chagrined the
handsome stranger, who had enter
tanned a hope, innocent enough in its
nature, that the long ride over the
plains might be enlivened with piquant
Irritation.
..Pallas Athene," he said, regret
fully. s.Beautiful, but susceptible OF
no passion that is not animated by
reason"
Such a cohclusion might have been
rather. hasty. but it appears that this
aggressive young man in an ulster and
traveling-cap made some pretense to-
ward being a reader Of character.
Meanwhile Sybil, consitutionally OPP
posed to "ogling," as all sensible.
womanly girls are, formed a pretty
severe opinion of the stranger who
took such a mean advantage Of the
power Of reflection. But she scorned
70 change her seat. Her policy was
one Of complete oblivion. and, settling
herself comfortably, she soon forgot all
about the handsome pair Of brown eyes
90 deliberately fixed on the telltale
mirror.
The other passengers were pretty
well acquainted by the time they reach
ed Chicago, but Sybil, naturally re-
| served. and becoming more 80 through
the protective instinct which prompted
her 10 make few friends when travelling
alone. had not Joined the little coterie